MEDIA RELEASE (CORRRECTION)

A 52-year-old Holualoa woman died Monday (March 5) from injuries she sustained after being hit by a truck on Palekana Road, .1 north of Old Poi Factory Road in South Kona.

The victim was identified as Shelley Williams of Holualoa.

Responding to a 6:37 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 28-year-old Kailua-Kona man was operating a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck and traveling north on Palekana Road when he ran off the right side of the road and struck the victim, who was mowing the grass in front of her home.

The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m.

The driver of the truck was arrested for negligent homicide but police released him pending further investigation after conferring with the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing the investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved. Police also believe that speed played a factor in the crash.

Because the crash occurred on a private road, it is not counted toward the island’s traffic fatality count.